Local Signals, Strategic Moves: Building Business Strategy from the Ground Up
Understanding your local market isn’t just about knowing who your customers are—it’s about translating real-world signals into moves that actually grow your business. When done right, localized insights can shape pricing, products, and even partnerships that give you a durable advantage.Key Takeaways Local insights become strategic leverage when they inform pricing, positioning, and partnerships. Real customer patterns—foot traffic, search trends, or survey data—reveal unmet demand faster than national
Protecting Your Small Business from Fraud and Data Breaches: A Practical Guide
Running a small business today means more than just managing cash flow and customer relationships — it also means protecting your company from an invisible but very real threat: cybercrime. Fraud and data breaches can devastate a business, causing financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties. The good news is that with a few smart, consistent practices, you can prevent most attacks and recover faster if one occurs.Quick Takeaways Fraud and data breaches can happen to businesses of any
Ridgewater Announces New VP of Finance and CFO
Dr. Craig Johnson, President of Ridgewater College, is pleased to announce the promotion of Sam Bowen to the position of Vice President of Finance and Operations and Chief Financial Officer. Bowen has been serving as the Dean of Customized Training and Continuing Education for Ridgewater since 2013. He previously served as the Director of Communications and Marketing from 2004-2013. Before joining Ridgewater, Sam worked in sales and marketing roles for private industry in Minnesota. Sam holds a
Ridgewater Announces Two Replacement Deans
Mike Kutzke, Vice President of Academic Affairs, is pleased to announce the appointment of Katy Lundell-Stuhr, DC as Ridgewater’s Dean of Technical Programs. Katy has been an integral part of Ridgewater College since 2014, serving as a Massage Therapy Instructor and Program Director. She has also chaired the Learning Effectiveness Action Plan (LEAP) committee since 2022. LEAP is a comprehensive process to evaluate the effectiveness of instruction. Katy brings a wealth of experience and expertise in
The Back-Office Mistakes That Can Sink a Small Business (and How to Prevent Them)
Running a small business often feels like sprinting a marathon — you’re juggling sales, operations, customer service, and growth all at once. But it’s not the obvious hurdles that tend to trip owners up. It’s the invisible, back-office missteps quietly eroding cash flow, compliance, and confidence. With all of this in mind, here’s what you need to look for before these silent errors threaten your company’s survival.What You’ll Learn Here The hidden operational mistakes that compound over time How
